October 21, 2016 - 14:11 AMT
“Free State of Jones” star joins Ava DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle in Time”

Gugu Mbatha-Raw has joined Disney’s movie adaptation of “A Wrinkle in Time”, Variety reports.

Ava DuVernay is on board to direct with Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Storm Reid also attached to star in the film.

Jennifer Lee, who wrote and co-directed “Frozen” with Chris Buck, is penning the adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s book for Disney. The story follows children as they travel through time and visit strange worlds in order to find their missing scientist father.

DuVernay has since confirmed Variety’s report on Twitter:

"Don't hope it was a dream." Thrilled to confirm that Gugu Mbatha-Raw has joined #TeamWrinkle as Dr. Murry, Meg's mom + brilliant scientist. pic.twitter.com/13VNc6vsCe

— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) October 20, 2016

“A Wrinkle in Time” is the first book in L’Engle’s “Time Quartet” series, which includes “A Wind in the Door,” “Many Waters,” and “A Swiftly Tilting Planet.”

Mbatha-Raw would play the role of Dr. Murry — Meg and Charles Wallace’s mother. She is a scientist who, with Meg’s father, comes up with the notion of the wrinkle in time. Mbatha-Raw was most recently seen in “Free State of Jones” and will star next in Bad Robot’s “God Particle.” She will follow that up with Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in the role of feather duster Plumette.